Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-09-21

Germany Ready for n struggle % the
Death with France.


TIE soLrp s7RxssgrH AND PERFECT WAR PRBPARA
TIoSs OF THE GERMAN BSPIRK--A COUNTRY Oh
FIGHTING MzN AND WORKING woNEN-coNYI
DESCB THE RESULT.
Frank A. Richar dson In the Baltimore Sun.
BERLIN. August 31--Germany Is on q war foot
lag. France is on a war footing. Russia Is on q
war footing. Such are the sentences which fire.
Quently meet the eye OF the readers Of European
news In the United States, but the meaning OF
which Is but dimly comprehended. It needs to
see with ones own eyes not the dead print which
conveys such intelligence. but the living, moving
evidences OF European preparation for hostiities,
70 comprehend and appreciate what the term
"war footing means Every country In con-
mental Europe, great and small, Is on war
footing. Belgium and Holland, with pOpula-
tons not much in excess Of that OF the State OF
New York, have standing armies larger by thou
sands than the entire Army OF the United States.
And these two countries have enrOned on their re-
served list fully one-1fth OF their whole popula-
tion, which reserves be put In the field In less
than thirty days. The Netherlands are 80 situated
that they are in less danger from the c'lpidty OF
their neighbOrS than any OF the other small states
but this does not make them less sensible OF the
force OF the MAXIM In time OF peace prepare for
war" They do not know what may turn up, and
therefore believe In the fullest of prepare
ton. Belgium is, perhaps, In the most critical
condition OF any Of the lesser Kingdoms, for the
inevitably result In q permanent infringement
upon its territory By the successful combatants.
WAR Is INEVITABLE.
War Is coming, not this year in all probability,
pechaps not next year or the year after, but that
it is coming is the universal sentiment all over the
continent and when cannot be foretold. There Is
not man in this city who does not accept IL a.
certain that Germany and France are TO meet
less deep that this time the struggle must be one
70 the death, with no hope left to the vanQu1shed
Cannon spd tbouSb whom ss al Hpsoee
being drawn IN before its conclusion, even TO
Great Britain, although 1t is quite sure that Eng
the fire so long as 1t can. "war footing" means,
In Germany and France half million Of men for
each country fully armed and equipped, drilled TO
&C q minutes notice. Behind them are the
reserves, including In the various classes
age all Of whom can be put into the held in few
WeekA IL means the most extensive system OF
frontier defense that was ever devised the fortt-
to the very last extent that skill, science and
money can go; The Prussians claim that they
and Lorraine, and 30 fortified and garrisoned the
Important towns Of the two provinces as TO bane
any attempts at recapture by the French under the
But they do not cOncede the most remote proba-
bility OF French success and the war party In Ber
than The 10y, m os Erench natnDsItV me
Rhine, along which sailed for $50 miles, Is forth
he'd at every accessible point every town Is heavily
having q much larger force Of defenders than
Lieut.. Gen. Sheridan commands.
FIGHTING MEN AND WORKING WOMEN.
American tourists are so often struck at the
sight OF women engaged In every kind OF manual
labor. In all continental Europe there Is no Spe-
eeS OF unskilled labor that women do not perform.
This seems shocking to American tastes and in
StinctS, although among the peaSantry the female
almost invariably seems equal in muscle and In
m nm and ChrfS ffor-
lily, IL would seem, ought naturally by this time
TO have wrought change in the customs and
Ideas OF the feudal period. But It looks as IL
the emancipation OF the women Of the humber
classes In Europe from the thraldom OF serfdOm is
yet very distant. 1t suits kings and potentates
shall follow the pillow or pull it-shan In
truth, be veritable beasts of burden, for
this enables them to draw upon the entire
able-bodied male population in further
ance OF their schemes and purposes. What
strengthens the custom Is also the willing Obed-
fence OF the women, for they have never known
anything else, and the tacit satisfaction OF their
husband. fathers and brothers. In war or in peace
IOrln sword or a musket- The peasant OF Europe
Is very much like the North American Indian. II
he Is soldier he thinks IL beneath his dignity TO
work, and II the women OF his household can
do everything while he Is away to the war,
he thinks they can do 1t equally as
well when he Is at home This accounts
very much for the spectacle so constantly wit.
Messed, and over which American ladies never tire
OF venting their indignation OF the men lOlling
while the women are toiling under the burning
sun OF the harvest field.
THE GERMAN WAR PARTY.
The war party In Germany is certainly very In
fcential and very numerous, and If there Is any
peace party 1t keeps very quiet This party is
tirIngof waiting for France 10 begin the contest.
Since the treaty OF Paris France has not taken
one step In the way OF armament, fertilization
military or naval preparation that Germany has
not followed with similar one. That the two
nations nave a corps OF open-eyed spies In the
heart Of each others territory is well understood
and In the seventeen years there has been no i'm
prOvement in light or heavy ordnance adopted by
one that the other has not been almost INSTANTLY
Informed OF IT, and sought at once to effect still
further Improvements. IL Is asserted here that
Germany has FAR outstrtpped France In all sue
cessive movements, and this is the reason
France Ia awaiting to begin the attack
until she shall be In better CONDITION: this &c is
declared. shall never come TO pass, and popular
clamor Is that Germany shall not biLe the time of
France, but shall itself bring on the contest
German military orncer who participated In every
battle OF the 1870 war told me the repeating rife
with which the soldiers OF the empire are now
armed Is the most effective weapon the world has
ever known, and Infinitely superior to anything
the French have. This officer said there was q
feeling that the last days OF the emperor should be
as Tree from care and disquietude as possible and
out Tor this feeling he thought France would have
been forced 10 light before this When the empe
TOR dies, however, that moment would be the sig-
nal for war; II II should not come before.
SPIRIT OF THE COVENTRY.
fmoued with the idea that the destiny of the en-
pire is to become the greatest nationality OF the
world. They Insist that Cheir troops are composed
or better nghting material and are better armed
than any Others This may not be So but IL the
fifty thousand have seen are 10 be regarded as a
sample or the whole the German army is certainly
splendid body OF men ana in splendid condition
That most important essential OF military move
ments, the cotnInisSary and quartermasterS de-
partment, seems 70 be most fully provided for and
nothing that can be done In this respect has If is
said, been left undOne The German officers saw
that not once in the 1870 war did a German sol.
der even go hungry. while the French frequently
marched and fought with empty bellies
They admit this gave them a great adj
vantage and alege that the French NOT
Fronting by experience, have their commissary
Still In most disOrganiZed and ineffective condi-
tlOn- IL Is interesting To hear how some OF their
orcers talk They take IL for granted they are TO
oyerrun France, and the limits which they set to
The anticipated new adjustment OF boundaries are
alluded 70 as the natural ally or France but the
feeling against that country is not TO be Compared
with the intensity OF animOsity against the latter
Germany really calculates upon making such short
work OF France that Russia will not have time IN
take hand But when hOStilitieS once begin in
Europe experience has often proved how diificuIt
II Is TO forecast results, and II German calcula.
tons should De set at naught there would be notn.
Ing very extraordinary about IL. But that Ger
many was never better prepared for war than now
Is evident; for, added 10 the immense balance
which has been slowed away In its treasury the
perfect equipment and discipline OF its soldiery is
contest and the abiding confidence in the result